Method of pouring and compressing steel ingots



G. W. BILLINGS. METHOD 0E EOUEING AND GOMPEESSING STEEL INGOTS.

. Patented May 18, 1884.

N. PETERS. Phuwmhogmphnr, wnhingmn, u. c.

To all whom it may concern.-

GEORGE W. BILLINGS, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO.

METHOD OF POURING AND COMPRESSING STEEL INGOTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 298,662, dated May 13, 1884. Application led February 29, 1884. (No model.)

- Beit known that I, GEORGE W. BrLLINGs, of Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented an Improved Method of Pouring and Oompressing Steel Ingots; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this application.

My present invention relates to a novel method of casting compressed ingots of more than ordinary length; and it consists, essentially, in pouring the liquid metal into amold having a descending bottom, (so that the fall of the stream is always slight,) and thenimmediately subjecting the poured metal to sudden and severe pressure within the mold, all as will be hereinafter more fully explained, and as will be more particularly defined in the claim of this specification.

To enable those skilled in the art to understand and practice my invention, I will now proceed to more fully describe it, referring by letters to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this speciiication, and in which I have shown an apparatus such as Iprefer for use in carrying on my alleged novel method of manufacture.

I will now explain the construction and operation of the apparatus shown and preferably used for carrying out my invention, at the same time describing my improved process or mode of casting steel ingots of unusual length by means of the contrivance illustrated.

At Figures l and2 of the drawings I have shown, respectively in sectional elevation and in vertical central section,the apparatus preferably employed for carrying out my invention, which is composed, as seen, of a duplex mold properly mounted and secured in place over the compressing-plunger, and beneath the top plate of the frame-work connected with the compressing-engine.

As clearly illustrated, each section of the mold is composed of a sheet-metal cylinder, provided at its ends with annular rims K, to permit attachment to the compressing-machine and to each other, and each of the molds is lined with brick and properly coated, all in a manner which need not be particularly described here, but will be found fully explained .in another application by myself, iiled J anuary 16, 1884, No. 117,707, the subject-matter of which relates more particularly to the construction of the molds and other parts of the apparatus which I employ in carrying out my improved process.

At Fig. 1 I have shown the descending and compressing plunger, which enters thebore of the mold in the operation of descending during the pouring of the ingot, while at Fig. 2 the parts of the apparatus are shown in about that condition in which they would be immediately after the pouring of the mold, and when the compression-plate had been placed over the top of the liquid mass, and the latter suddenly compressed by a slight rapid movement upward of the compressing-plunger. Two or more of these sections having been properly prepared interiorly,they are placed one on another inline axially, and their end rims, K, keyed, (to keep them in line,) and are secured to their upper frame portion, J5, of the compressing-machine by means of lugs Ni, which project from their vertical tie-rod M5, and are secured by keys P5 (see Fig. 2) to the said frame J5. (See Fig. 2.)

In the use of these sectional molds for casting long ingots according to my novel method, Ia resistant plate, P, is placed and secured (in any desirable manner) over the top of the mold after the pouring in of the liquid metal, in order that the contents of the mold may be subjected to the necessary compression within the mold; and in the use of such long molds, it being impractical to pour in the same manner as in the use of molds not over five feet deep, (or long,) I adopt the plan of compressing-machine shown, the construction and operation of which are such that while the machine serves to do the compressing after the `lling of the mold, it also serves to render practical (by affording a descending bottom to the mold) the pouring of ingots of great length. This construction of pressing-machine is most clearly illustrated at Fig. 1, where E5 is a cylinder of a length, preferably, about equal to the length of the mold to be used in connection therewith, and provided with a long piston-rod, F5, (see Fig. 1,) the head or piston on the lower end of which iits and works properly within said cylinder Said piston-rod F5 passes through the upper head of cylinder E5, as shown, and has its upper protruding IOO end formed or provided with a head or piston that is adapted to pass easily into the bore or interior of the ingot-mold arranged over 4and in line with it. h A

At the upper and lower portions of the cylinder are suitable ports, I5 and H5, for the ingress and egress ofthe water, steam, or other motive medium to be used towork the piston up and down within said cylinder, and immediately beneath said cylinder is located an-` other cylinder of much greater diameter, on which the cylinder E5 rests, and to which are bolted or otherwise secured the lower ends of the four vertical frame or tie rods G5, that extend upwardly around the cylinder E5 and around the sectional ingot-mold, and the upper ends of which are secured in a top plate, (all as clearly illustrated,) beneath which latter is placed thevresistant plate or mold-cover, as shown. The lower and larger cylinder, A5, is provided with a piston, B, the lower end of which fits and works in said cylinder, and the upper end of which is, however, made small `enough to iit and work within the bore of the upper (and smaller) cylinder, E. (See Fig. 1.)

In the'operation of this machine, the upper long cylinder (of small diameter) is designed to be used for lowering the piston-head that works in the mold during the pouring operation, (and to raise it again for reuse,) while thelower short cylinder of great diameter (and short stroke) is to be used to suddenly elevate said piston within the mold after the pouring operation, for the purpose of suddenly compressing the ingot with great force. rIhe lower cylinder, A5, has the necessary ports, as shown, for the ingress and egress of the water, steam, or other actuating medium to be used, in'like :manner as in the case of any ordinary engine-v cylinder. i I

In practicing my improved method with the apparatus herein shown and described, (which is such as I prefer to use in carrying out my present invention,) I proceed about as follows: supposing the mold to have been properlyprepared and securedin place in the position shown, water (or steam) is admitted at the lower port, H5, of cylinder E5, and the piston of said cylinder thereby raised until the head or upper end of rod F5 shall have been forced up inside of the ingot-mold to within a very short distance of the top. The pouring is now begun, and at the same time the water or steam motive power is allowed to enter at the upper port, I5, while it is permitted mold, and the piston or plunger is in the act of descending during the pouring operation. When the upper surface of the headon the top end of piston-rod F5 shall have nearly or quite reached the lower end of the mold, and the latter shall have (then) become full of theY molten metal, the resistant plate P5 or cover (seen in section at Fig. 2) is quickly slid over the top of the mold, and, being located between the top of the mold and the top plate of the frame of the machine, securely covers the mass of hot metal. The water or steam is then quickly let on to the lowercylinder, A5, in such manner as to act upon the lower surface of its piston B5,(the ports of the cylinder E5 being now open to permit the ready exhaustion of its contents,) and the sudden ascent of piston B5, with the great force due to the action of the water or steam on the lower surface thereof, causes the piston-rod F5 and the head or plunger at the upper end thereof to be lifted, and the contents of the mold to be suddenly compressed with great force between the head of the piston-rod F5 and the resistant plate lor cover which is iirmly held in place over the top of the mold. rIhe pistons of both cylinders are now depressed quickly, to clear the lower end of the mold of the compressing piston-head, and either the mold with its contents is then removed, and the ingot subsequently extricated therefrom, or the ingot is taken out of the mold by a separation of its parts sufficiently to permit the removal of the ingot.

It will be seen that in this novel mode of casting long ingots with the apparatus shown (orwith any contrivance involving the proper principle of operation) I am enabled to pour ingots of any practicable length withoutdifficulty, as the stream of liquid steel in entering the mold has never to fall but the minimum extent, (the bottom of the mold descending as the mold iills,) while at the same time I am enabled, the moment the mold shall have become filled, to compress the mass within the mold, so as to produce ingots of any desired length without any piping or cavities.

Should it be deemed expedient and desirable, or should occasion require' it, an amount of metal somewhat less than that requisite to make an ingot fully equal in length to the capacity of the mold may be molded and compressed into a perfect ingot, Of course, it will be understood that in all cases the compressling device, which is adapted to enter into the mold,should have the joint between its upper surface and the walls of the mold properly packed or stopped up sufficiently, with the usual materials, to prevent any escape of the liquid metal when it is poured in; and, if deemed desirable, supplemental bottom pieces or disk-like pieces of some suitable material may be placed within the mold to rest on top of the compressing-head before the pouring of the liquid steel begins.

Having now s o fully explained my improved mode or method of making long compressed IOO IIO

ngots and so shown and explained a suitable always slight,) and then immediately subjectand efficient apparatus With which to conduct ing the liquid contents of the mold to severe said method of manufacture that any skilled and sudden compression, all substantially as person can practice my invention, what I set forth.

5 claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters In Witness whereof I have hereunto set my r 5 Patent, ishand this 18th day of February, 1884.

As an improvement in the manufacture of GEO. WV. BILLINGS. compressed ngots of great length, pouring In presence ofthe liquid metal into a mold having a descend- M. R. KEITH, Io ing bottom, (so that the fall o f the stream is W. B. BEEBE. 

